ORLEANS – A public forum to discuss plans to dredge Nauset Estuary will be held tonight in Orleans.
The Orleans Citizens Forum will host the event that will provide an update on the newly-formed Orleans Dredge Advisory Committee.
A panel of speakers will discuss technical, scientific, regulatory and financial challenges, along with potential benefits, associated with the dredging.
The Dredge Advisory Committee will work with the town’s Board of Selectmen, the Woods Hole Group, Barnstable County, Eastham and the Cape Cod National Seashore to develop plans for the waterways.
“All of these people have an interest in dredging,” said Tom Hanrahan, a member of the Citizens Forum.
The dredging of Nauset Estuary has been discussed for several years.
“There have been an awful lot of changes as far as the inlet to the estuary and water exhausting from Town Cove and so on,” Hanrahan said. “It’s a very live topic right now.”
Hanrahan said it is impossible for boaters to get in and out at certain times of the day.
“Near low tide it is very difficult to even get out with a kayak,” he said.
Another issue is boats having to wait to get back in at certain times during the day.
“If weather should change, you could end up having boats stuck out there in different situations,” Hanrahan said.
Coastal Geologist Leslie Fields with the Woods Hole Group will discuss the work being done to determine the dredging that needs to be done, what paths the dredge will take, permitting requirements and how to handle the removed material.
William Amaru, a commercial fisherman who is a member of the town’s Citizens Forum and Dredge Advisory Committee, will inform the public about the need of dredging from a fishing and boating safety standpoint.
Jack Yunits, the Barnstable County Administrator, will provide details on the equipment operations as the county owns the dredge.
“We hope to have a representative from the National Seashore there as well,” Hanrahan said.
The forum begins runs from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at the Orleans Senior Center. It is free and open to the public.
The Orleans Citizens Forum does not take positions on issues and works to present all information relating to town topics.
About CapeCod.com NewsCenter
